Osun: Osogbo Catholic Diocese, JDPMC Vow Continued Support for Vulnerable Communities

The Catholic Diocese of Osogbo has restated its commitment to strengthening rural development, promoting good governance and improving the welfare of vulnerable communities across Osun State.

The reaffirmation was made on Thursday, December 4, during the 29th Annual Rural Development Programme (RUDEP) Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum of the Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC), held at the Bishop’s House, Oke Ayepe, Ilesa Road, Osogbo.

This year’s forum, themed “Local Seeds Conservation, Native Breeds and Organic Practices: A Necessity for Strengthening Food Security,” brought together farmers, clergy, development partners and community leaders to review progress and deepen strategies for sustainable agriculture, local seed preservation and organic farming.

Speaking at the event, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, said the Church remained committed to championing community welfare, peace and agricultural development, duties he described as critical to government performance.

“It is the government’s job that the Church is doing, and it is our desire to see a peaceful and prosperous world. When there is peace, there is progress,” Oyejola said.

He encouraged farmers not to lose hope, adding that, “In many developed countries, wealthy people are farmers with full government support. We can achieve that here by God’s grace.”

The General Coordinator of JDPMC, Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi, said the diocese’s development agenda is guided by data, noting that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s multidimensionally poor population lives in rural communities, making targeted rural interventions essential.

“This is why we invest the largest portion of our annual resources in the Rural Development Programme to build farmers’ capacity,” he said.

“Beyond human capital, we also work to create an enabling environment by pushing the government to take responsibility for citizens’ welfare through our Democratic Good Governance Programme.”

Akinkunmi disclosed that in 2025, JDPMC focused on tracking government expenditure and monitoring public projects, with its findings scheduled for release in January 2026.

He added that the organisation supported the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to strengthen the credibility of this year’s local government elections.

On justice sector reforms, he revealed that JDPMC provided legal aid to 14 persons in conflict with the law, noting that 10 out of 11 concluded cases ended in acquittal.
He added that the organisation also supported educational and skill-acquisition programmes for inmates at the Ilesa Correctional Centre and children in the Osogbo correctional facility.

In the health sector, JDPMC implemented an anti-HIV campaign across five tertiary institutions in Osun State, complemented by extensive digital outreach to young people.

Akinkunmi expressed gratitude to longstanding development partners, including Misereor of Germany, the U.S. Embassy, and the European Union, for their continuous support for the diocese’s programmes.

Representing the Sustainable Farmers Association of Nigeria (SUFAN), the apex president, Elder Solomon Adelowo, commended RUDEP’s impact on farmers’ productivity and resilience.

He said the association had grown significantly in membership and capacity, attributing improved yields and reduced production costs to the training and support received from JDPMC.

“Local farmers are the real producers, but the government cannot reach everyone due to challenges like poor roads and water supply,” Adelowo said.

“Through this platform, many of these problems have been addressed. Food security is more assured, and with rainfall extending into late November, 2026 already looks promising for us.”

The forum ended with a renewed commitment from JDPMC to deepen collaboration with stakeholders in advancing social justice, sustainable agriculture and community empowerment across Osun State.